Natural Heritage Handsome Sedge & Endangered Species formosa Dewey Program www.mass.gov/nhesp State Status: Threatened Federal Status: None Division of Fisheries & Wildlife

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Handsome sedge is a slender, grass-like, perennial in the Sedge family (). It grows in clumps that are 3-7 dm (3/4 - 2 1/2 ft.) in height, and its culms, or stems, are tinged with purple at the base. The leaves are 3-7 mm (3/25 - 7/25 in.) wide, very thin, and hairy underneath. Handsome Sedge's much-reduced flowers are clustered in spikes (unbranched, usually elongate inflorescences in which the flowers are stalkless) that contain a mixture of male and female flowers. The terminal spike of C. formosa is mostly staminate, or male, with only a few pistillate, or female, flowers at its summit. In contrast, the 1-3 cm (2/5 - 1 1/5 in.) long lateral spikes are mostly pistillate-- with a few staminate flowers at the base--and are borne on thin, downward curving peduncles (the stalks of inflorescences). These peduncles are longer than the spikes. The inflated, 3.5-5 mm (4/25 - 5/25 in.) long, Illustration from USDA-NRCS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and perigynia (sac-like structures that enclose the female the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, . Vol. 1: reproductive structures) are topped by short elongations 408. or "beaks," and are sub-tended by scales that are slightly shorter than the perigynia. The bracts (modified leaves SIMILAR SPECIES: Handsome Sedge could easily associated with flowers or inflorescences) sheath the be confused with Davis's Sedge (C. davisii). Unlike stems and become much smaller toward the top of the Davis's Sedge, however, Handsome Sedge has both . Handsome Sedge's perigynia-enclosed fruits male and female flowers on its lateral spikes. (The mature from early to late June. lateral spikes of C. davisii are entirely pistillate.) In addition, the pistillate scales of Davis's Sedge have very long awns (slender bristles located at the top of the scales); those of Handsome Sedge do not.

HABITAT: Handsome Sedge's habitats include the borders of calcareous marshes and seepage swamps (wet, wooded areas in which groundwater seeps to the surface from a calcareous, gravelly substrate); and Distribution in Massachusetts moist, open forests. Among the species associated with 1985 - 2010 Handsome Sedge are White Pine (Pinus strobus), Based on records in White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Red Maple (Acer Natural Heritage Database rubrum), and various species of sedges (Carex spp.).

A Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife 1 Rabbit Hill Rd., Westborough, MA; tel: 508-389-6300; fax: 508-389-7890; www.mass.gov/dfw

Please allow the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program to continue to conserve the biodiversity of Massachusetts with a contribution for ‘endangered wildlife conservation’ on your state income tax form, as these donations comprise a significant portion of our operating budget. www.mass.gov/nhesp Handsome Sedge Fact Sheet – p. 2

RANGE: The Handsome Sedge occurs from MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: All southwestern Quebec and southern Ontario to North populations are in locations where natural processes or Dakota, south to western and southern human activities have produced disturbed habitats. . Competition from exotic invasive species is a potential threat to Handsome Sedge populations. Monitoring and POPULATION STATUS IN MASSACHUSETTS: removal of competing vegetation should be considered Handsome Sedge is listed under the Massachusetts as a management strategy where appropriate. All active Endangered Species Act as Threatened. All listed management of rare plant populations (including species are protected from killing, collecting, invasive species removal) is subject to review under the possessing, or sale and from activities that would Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, and should be destroy habitat and thus directly or indirectly cause planned in close consultation with the Massachusetts mortality or disrupt critical behaviors. It is currently Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. known from Berkshire,. There are four current stations (discovered or relocated since 1978) in three towns in Berkshire County. Handsome Sedge is also considered rare in Connecticut, Vermont, New York, , Minnesota, North Dakota and . Handsome Sedge was present historically in .

Updated 2015

A Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan

Please allow the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program to continue to conserve the biodiversity of Massachusetts with a contribution for ‘endangered wildlife conservation’ on your state income tax form, as these donations comprise a significant portion of our operating budget. www.mass.gov/nhesp